More than a year in the making, today marks the release of Nikkita's debut single, 'Looking Up', the Perth EDM-pop artist channelling the likes of Alison Wonderland and Flume.
A mix of honest yet sombre lyrics and heavy, undulating synths plus massive-sounding future bass rhythms, Nikkita worked with producer Izaac Wilson (DZ Deathrays, Tia Gostelow, Chillinit) who tweaked the song adding textures and tones to bring Nikkita's sonic world to life.With several more 'dance-bop' anthems in the pipeline, Nikkita has embraced the confidence to pursue her solo music career with 'Looking Up' the first chapter of a spellbinding journey.
Who is Nikkita... I'm a Perth-based singer-songwriter and producer trying to bring a raw sense of honesty to the pop/ EDM landscape. My music documents my mental health battles, and I really hope it helps anyone listening to feel a little less alone.
I sound like... A little like Vera Blue, Flume or Alison Wonderland. Somewhere between pop and future bass.
My first gig was... Thanks to the pandemic, Nikkita lives only in the digital world for now, but toward the end of 2022, a tour is looking possible.
When did you settle on your artistic name, and was it a unanimous decision... Nikkita is my name. Given that it's just me at the moment, I'd say that decision was unanimous. This name was settled on a few days before I was born by my mum who was in the bath listening to Elton John's 'Nikita'.
In the studio I usually... Work with the absolute legend Izaac Wilson who takes my productions and adds in his signature textures and tones.
Together we create these kind of brooding dance tracks that build to euphoria. We haven't actually spent much time together physically in the studio since he's in Sydney and I'm in Perth, so it's usually sending stems back and forth and pulling it together over Zoom.
If I could tour with anyone... Taylor Swift without a doubt. She seems super nice and I think we'd be great friends. Also it was really after endless studying of her songs that I realised I had such a passion for songwriting.
Social media is... Such a great platform for so many things including musicians, but it can also be so damaging to people. I'd love to see the platforms taking more responsibility and more action on this.
My favourite app at the moment is... Uber Eats because I love food. Especially when I don't have to prepare it or move far to get it.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I don't think I get super embarrassed about stuff.
I'm the kind of person who tells people when I love them and when I write songs about them – even when I know the feelings aren't mutual. Life's too short to be held back by potential embarrassments.
Life on the road can be... I'm not sure. Most of my music I don't even have to leave my room for.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... Snacks! Vegan ones, but honestly I'd probably bring my own haha.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Once I was in an Uber Pool by myself in the middle of the night and we picked up these two guys.
At some point they started arguing with the driver and pulled a knife out. The Uber driver then casually said he had a gun under the seat and wan't afraid to use it. I'm not sure if he actually did, but the guys got out pretty quickly after that. Uber Pools were always so wild. I miss them.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Jane Fonda or Dolly Parton. I made a commitment to myself that any money I make from my music would go straight into initiatives or organisations making the world a better place; and these two women have dedicated their lives to doing exactly that.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? I'd really love to go live in New York. I hear people in the street will just strike up a conversation with you and that really seems like my kind of vibe.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus because they're my three favourite songwriters.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Look, I probably wouldn't cook because I'm terrible at it. But if it was important that I did, then maybe I'd order burgers to be delivered in secret and then tell you they were STEAMED HAMS – an old family recipe.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? LOVE pets! I don't have any of my own because I'm always moving around, but I'm definitely the kind of person to pet stranger's dogs in the street.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Sometime before the pandemic. All that heavy breathing makes me nervous now.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? GARDENING! I'm really scared of spiders.
Do you have any phobias... Spiders, hippopotamuses and robots. Spiders is an obvious one. Hippos because they can run faster than humans and they have those massive mouths.
And my fear of robots came about one day after I watched 'Terminator Salvation' at the cinema with that giant terminator machine at the gas station, and then after that Skrillex came on the radio for the first time and I couldn't listen to it because it sounded like robots and gave me anxiety.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Yes. One of those obstacle course shows like 'Wipeout' or 'Happy Smile Super Challenge Family Wish Show'.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? This is going to sound really lame, but I have never pulled a prank before and wouldn't even know how to. Please don't judge me.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Lord Of The Fries.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? My friends have dissected this for me a lot actually.
So it's a combination of Phoebe Buffay (a bit off beat and always writing weird songs), Chris Traeger (either wildly positive or hopelessly depressed) and Robin Scherbatsky (hyper independent) – once I had major surgery and told no one and caught a taxi home from the hospital. Everyone was so mad at me!
Last show you binge-watched (and what kept you glued to the screen)? I had COVID a couple of weeks ago, so I've been binge-watching 'Friends' while living that fever dream.
